EPISTLE THE EIGHTH. TO MY FRIEND MR. J. NORTHLEIGH, AUTHOR OF THE PARALLEL, ON HIS TRIUMPH OF THE BRITISH MONARCHY. THESE Verses have been recovered by Mr. Malone, and are transferred, from his life of Dryden, into the present collection of his works. John Northleigh was by profession a student of law, though he afterwards became a physician, and was in politics a keen Tory. He wrote "The Parallel, or the new specious Association, an old rebellious Covenant, closing with a disparity between a true Patriot and a factious Associator." London, 1682, folio. This work was anonymous, but attracted so much applause among the High Churchmen, that, according to Wood, Dr. Lawrence Womack called the author" an excellent person, whose name his own modesty, or prudence, as well as the iniquity of the times, keeps from us. Proceeding in the same track of politics, Northleigh published two pamphlets on the side of the Tories, in the dispute between the Petitioners and Abhorrers; and finally produced, "The Triumph of our Monarchy, over the Plots and Principles of our Rebels and Republicans, being remarks on their most eminent Libels. London, 1685." This last publication called forth the following lines from our author. VOL. XI. с Northleigh was the son of a Hamburgh merchant, and born in that city. He became a student in Exeter College, in 1674, aged 17 years; and was, it appears, studying law in the Inner Temple in 1685, when his book was published. He was then, consequently, about 28 years old; so that his genius was not peculiarly premature, notwithstanding our author's compliment. He afterwards took a medical degree at Cambridge, and practised physic at Exeter.-WOOD, Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 962. These verses, like the Address to Hoddesdon, are ranked among the Epistles, because Dryden gave that title to other recommendatory verses of the same nature. EPISTLE THE EIGHTH. So Joseph, yet a youth, expounded well 5 10 EPISTLE THE NINTH. A LETTER ΤΟ SIR GEORGE ETHEREGE. SIR GEORGE ETHEREGE, as a lively and witty companion, a smooth sonneteer, and an excellent writer of comedy, was in high reputation in the seventeenth century. He lived on terms of intimacy with the men of genius, and with those of rank, at the court of Charles the Second, and appears to have been particularly acquainted with Dryden. Etherege enjoyed in a particular manner the favour of Queen Mary of Este, through whose influence he was sent envoy to Hamburgh, and afterwards became resident minister at Ratisbon. In this situation he did not cease to interest himself in the progress of English literature; and we have several of his letters, both in prose and verse, written with great wit and vivacity, to the Duke of Buckingham, and other persons of wit and honour at the court of London. Among others, he wrote an Epistle in verse to the Earl of Middleton, who engaged Dryden to return the following answer to it. As Sir George's verses are lively and pleasing, I have prefixed them to Dryden's Epistle. Both pieces, with a second letter from Etherege to Middleton, appeared in Dryden's Miscellanies. Our poet's Epistle to Sir George Etherege affords an example how easily Dryden could adapt his poetry to the style which the moment required; since, although this is the only instance in which he has used the verse of eight syllables, it flows as easily from his pen as if he had never written in another measure. This is the more remarkable, as in the "Essay on Satire," Dryden speaks very contemptuously of the eight syllable, or Hudibrastic measure, and the ornaments proper to it, as a little instrument unworthy the use of a great master.* Here, however, he happily retorts upon the witty knight, with his own weapons of gallant and courtly ridicule, and acquits himself as well in the light arms of a polite and fashionable courtier, as when he wields the trenchant brand of his own keen satire. Our author had formerly favoured Sir George Etherege with an excellent epilogue to his popular play, called "The Man of Mode," acted in 1676, and he occasionally speaks of him in his writings with great respect. The date of this Epistle is not easily ascertained. From a letter of Etherege to the Duke of Buckingham, it appears that Sir George was at Ratisbon when Dryden was engaged in his controversial poetry; but whether that letter be previous or subsequent to the Epistle to the Earl of Middleton seems uncertain. Considering the high reputation which Sir George Etherege enjoyed, and the figure which he made as a courtier and a man of letters, it is humbling to add that we have no accurate information concerning the time or manner of his death. It seems certain that he never returned from the Continent; but it is dubious whether, according to one report, he followed the fortunes of King James, and resided with him at the court of St. Germains till his death, or whether, as others have said, that event was occasioned by his falling down the stairs of his own house at Ratisbon, when, after drinking freely with a large company, he was attempting to do the honours of their retreat. From the date of the letter to the Duke of Buckingham, 21st October 1689, it is plain he was then at Ratisbon; and it is somewhat singular that he appears to have retained his official situation of Resident, though nearly twelve months had elapsed since the Revolution. This seems to give countenance to the latter report of his having died at Ratisbon. The date of that event was probably about 1694. [The best and latest treatment of the perplexed subject of Etherege's last years and death will be found in Mr. Gosse's Seventeenth Century Authors, London, 1883, p. 233-265. As Etherege left Ratisbon in March 1689, he cannot have written thence in October, nor does the reference to Dryden suit the date. To some it may also seem a strong argument that Buckingham had been dead two years in 1689. This Epistle is clearly of 1686. See Mr. Gosse.-ED.] * Vol. xiii. p. 110. "They tell me my old acquaintance, Mr. Dryden, has left off the theatre, and wholly applies himself to the study of the controversies between the two churches. Pray heaven, this strange alteration in him portends nothing disastrous to the state; but I have all along observed, that poets do religion as little service by drawing their pens for it, as the divines do poetry, by pretending to versification." This letter is dated 21st October 1689. |